Great news! The Ontario Society of Artists has published a book, Breath. Heart. Spirit. The OSA 150 Years, to celebrate 150 years as the oldest continuously operating artists’ society in Canada.

This is a wonderful book for artists, their families and friends, chronicling the legacy and the significance of the society in Ontario’s cultural life.

This project has been two years in development with the OSA Anniversary Planning Committee. The book creation trio, Janet Read, (managing editor and writer), Diana Harding-Tucker (image editor and writer) and Pat Dumas-Hudecki (graphic designer) have worked to produce a publication that honours OSA history and looks forward, at times provocatively, towards our future.

Essayists include Dr. Laura Brandon, Hilary Dow, Linda Jansma, Joan Murray, Margaret Rodgers, Dr. Andrea Terry and OSA member, Agniezska Foltyn.

Images were sourced from public gallery collections with holdings of OSA artists. Image contributors include the National Gallery, Ontario Archives, Winnipeg, Vancouver, Agnes Etherington, Hamilton, Robert McLaughlin  and London public galleries.

Ordering Details 

Books will be shipped as they become available. Due to supply issues beyond our control it may take a several weeks to receive your book. 

Breath. Heart. Spirit. The OSA 150 Years is a wonderful book for artists, their families and friends, chronicling the legacy and the significance of the society in Ontario’s cultural life. Softcover, 204 pages in full colour.

A limited number of hardcover editions is now available to purchase. You can save the shipping cost by purchasing in person at the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Queen's Park Boutique, The Arts and Letters Club in Toronto, the Orillia Museum of Art and History and the Ottawa Art Gallery.

Each book has with 204 pages in full colour. The price of the softcover edition is $40 for OSA members (by being logged in) and $45 for non-members. The price of the hardcover edition is $60 for OSA members (by being logged in) and $65 for non-members. Shipping will be calculated at checkout.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to purchase this stellar publication chronicling and celebrating the rich history and future of the OSA.

"This book of life stories, artworks and essays is both relatable and inspiring. The reader will learn the fascinating history of this organization and be delighted and amazed by the abundance of talent that characterizes the OSA."

– Lani Kopczinski, curator of the Government of Ontario Art Collection, Archives of Ontario